Libya

Broadcast media

state-funded and private TV stations; some provinces operate local TV stations; pan-Arab satellite TV stations are available; state-funded radio (2012)

Internet country code

.ly

Internet hosts

17,926 (2012) country comparison to the world: 121

Internet users

353,900 (2009) country comparison to the world: 124

Telephone system

general assessment: telecommunications system is state-owned and service is poor, but investment is being made to upgrade; state retains monopoly in fixed-line services; mobile-cellular telephone system became operational in 1996 domestic: multiple providers for a mobile telephone system that is growing rapidly; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity has soared international: country code - 218; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat, NA Arabsat, and NA Intersputnik; submarine cable to France and Italy; microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric scatter to Greece; participant in Medarabtel

Telephones - main lines in use

1 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 78

Telephones - mobile cellular

10 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 77

Agriculture - products

wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts, soybeans; cattle

Budget

revenues: $56.88 billion expenditures: $51.41 billion (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

6.4% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 9

Central bank discount rate

9.52% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 105 3% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

6% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 142 6% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

$33.32 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 14 $4.002 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$5.054 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 117 $4.744 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Economy - overview

Libya's economy is structured primarily around the nation's energy sector, which generates about 95% of export earnings, 80% of GDP, and 99% of government revenue. Substantial income from the energy sector coupled with a small population give Libya one of the highest per capita GDPs in Africa, but Tripoli largely has not used its significant financial resources to develop national infrastructure or the economy, leaving many citizens poor. In the final five years of Qadhafi's rule, Libya made some progress on economic reform as part of a broader campaign to reintegrate the country into the international fold. This effort picked up steam after UN sanctions were lifted in September 2003 and after Libya announced in December 2003 that it would abandon programs to build weapons of mass destruction. The process of lifting US unilateral sanctions began in the spring of 2004; all sanctions were removed by June 2006, helping Libya attract greater foreign direct investment, especially in the energy and banking sectors. Libyan oil and gas licensing rounds drew high international interest, but new rounds are unlikely to be successful until Libya establishes a more permanent government and is able to offer increased security and more attractive financial terms on contracts. Libya's production of crude oil, at roughly 500,000 bbl/day, is far below the 2012 target of 3 million bbl/day set by the The National Oil Corporation (NOC). Libya faces a long road ahead in liberalizing its primarily socialist economy, but the revolution probably has unleashed previously restrained entrepreneurial activity and increased the potential for the evolution of a more market-based economy. The service and construction sectors, which account for roughly 20% of GDP, expanded over the past five years and could expand further if Tripoli prioritizes capital spending on development projects once political uncertainty subsides. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit agricultural output, and Libya imports about 80% of its food. Libya's primary agricultural water source remains the Great Manmade River Project.

Exchange rates

Libyan dinars (LYD) per US dollar - 1.257 (2012 est.) 1.224 (2011 est.) 1.2668 (2010 est.) 1.2535 (2009) 1.2112 (2008)

Exports

$51.48 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 59 $15.16 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas, chemicals

Exports - partners

Italy 22.8%, Germany 14.3%, France 14.2%, China 10.7%, Spain 5.2%, Tunisia 4.8% (2011)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$85.11 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$87.91 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 78 $39.62 billion (2011 est.) $98.28 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 2% industry: 40.1% services: 57.9% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$13,300 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 94 $6,100 (2011 est.) note: $15,000 (2010 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

121.9% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 1 -59.7% (2011 est.) 3.7% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$16.31 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 84 $10.07 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery, semi-finished goods, food, transport equipment, consumer products

Imports - partners

Tunisia 13.3%, Turkey 9.1%, China 8.8%, Italy 8.4%, Egypt 6.7%, Syria 5.2%, France 4.9%, Germany 4.8% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

2.7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 112

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.6% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 103 15.9% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

3.7% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Labor force

1.437 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 17% industry: 23% services: 59% (2004 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

NA note: about one-third of Libyans live at or below the national poverty line

Public debt

1.9% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 152 4.3% of GDP (2011 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$130.3 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 20 $105 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$42.39 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 71 $44.76 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$17.47 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 48 $16.89 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$17.15 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 74 $16.43 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$41.41 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 66 $38.98 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$38.21 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 52 $41.16 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

66.8% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 8

Unemployment rate

30% (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

60.6 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 57

Crude oil - exports

1.039 million bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 15

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Crude oil - production

502,400 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 29

Crude oil - proved reserves

48.08 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 10

Electricity - consumption

24.29 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Electricity - exports

124 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 72

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

Electricity - imports

73 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Electricity - installed generating capacity

6.766 million kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Electricity - production

28.6 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 65

Natural gas - consumption

6.844 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 54

Natural gas - exports

9.97 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 22

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Natural gas - production

16.81 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 35

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.495 trillion cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Refined petroleum products - consumption

314,000 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 44

Refined petroleum products - exports

84,490 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 45

Refined petroleum products - imports

575.3 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 201

Refined petroleum products - production

309,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Area

total: 1,759,540 sq km country comparison to the world: 17 land: 1,759,540 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Alaska

Climate

Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior

Coastline

1,770 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m

Environment - current issues

desertification; limited natural freshwater resources; the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in the world, brings water from large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 4.27 cu km/yr (14%/3%/83%) per capita: 730 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates

25 00 N, 17 00 E

Geography - note

more than 90% of the country is desert or semidesert

Irrigated land

4,700 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 4,348 km border countries: Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,115 km, Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km

Land use

arable land: 1.03% permanent crops: 0.19% other: 98.78% (2005)

Location

Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm note: Gulf of Sidra closing line - 32 degrees, 30 minutes north exclusive fishing zone: 62 nm

Natural hazards

hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, gypsum

Terrain

mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions

Total renewable water resources

0.6 cu km (1997)

Administrative divisions

22 districts (shabiyat, singular - shabiyat); Al Butnan, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jabal al Gharbi, Al Jafarah, Al Jufrah, Al Kufrah, Al Marj, Al Marqab, Al Wahat, An Nuqat al Khams, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi, Darnah, Ghat, Misratah, Murzuq, Nalut, Sabha, Surt, Tarabulus, Wadi al Hayat, Wadi ash Shati

Capital

name: Tripoli (Tarabulus) geographic coordinates: 32 53 N, 13 10 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

none; note - Libya has yet to draft a new constitution

Country name

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Libya local long form: none local short form: Libiya

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) note: on 11 September 2012, US Ambassador STEVENS and three other American diplomats were killed in an attack by heavily armed militants on a US diplomatic post in the eastern city of Benghazi embassy: off Jaraba Street, behind the Libyan-Swiss clinic, Ben Ashour mailing address: US Embassy, 8850 Tripoli Place, Washington, DC 20521-8850 telephone: [218] 91-220-3239

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Ali Suleiman AUJALI chancery: 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Suite 705, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 944-9601 FAX: [1] (202) 944-9060

Executive branch

note: the roles and structure of Libya's post-revolution government are in transition head of government: Prime Minister Ali ZAYDAN (since 14 October 2012) cabinet: new cabinet approved by the National Congress on 31 October 2012 (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: prime minister and National Congress president elected by the National Congress election results: NA

Flag description

three horizontal bands of red (top), black (double width), and green with a white crescent and star centered on the black stripe; the National Transitional Council reintroduced this flag design of the former Kingdom of Libya (1951-1969) on 27 February 2011; it replaced the former all-green banner promulgated by the QADHAFI regime in 1977; the colors represent the three major regions of the country: red stands for Fezzan, black symbolizes Cyrenaica, and green denotes Tripolitania; the crescent and star represent Islam, the main religion of the country

Government type

operates under a transitional government

Independence

24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BDEAC, CAEU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Judicial branch

NA

Legal system

Libya's post-revolution legal system is in flux and driven by state and non-state entities

Legislative branch

unicameral National Congress (200 seats; 120 individual seats elected from 69 constituencies and 80 party list seats elected from 20 constituencies; member term NA) elections: first National Congress election held on 7 July 2012 (next to be held NA) election results: percent of vote for party list seats only - NFA 48.7%, JCP 21.3%, other parties 30%; list and constituent seats - NFA 39, JCP 17, other 24, independents 120

National anthem

name: "Allahu Akbar" (God Is Greatest) lyrics/music: Mahmoud el-SHERIF/Abdalla Shams el-DIN note: adopted 1969; the anthem was originally a battle song for the Egyptian Army in the 1956 Suez War

National holiday

Liberation Day, 23 October (2011)

National symbol(s)

star and crescent; hawk

Political parties and leaders

note: includes some of the larger political parties and leaders Al-Watan (Homeland) Party; Justice and Construction Party or JCP [Muhammad SAWAN]; National Front (initially the National Front for the Salvation of Libya, formed in 1981 as a diaspora opposition group); National Forces Alliance [Mahmoud JIBRIL] (includes many political organizations, NGOs, and independents); Union for the Homeland [Abd al-Rahman al-SUWAYHILI]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

universal, adult

Background

The Italians supplanted the Ottoman Turks in the area around Tripoli in 1911 and did not relinquish their hold until 1943 when defeated in World War II. Libya then passed to UN administration and achieved independence in 1951. Following a 1969 military coup, Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI began to espouse his political system, the Third Universal Theory. The system was a combination of socialism and Islam derived in part from tribal practices and was supposed to be implemented by the Libyan people themselves in a unique form of "direct democracy." QADHAFI used oil funds during the 1970s and 1980s to promote his ideology outside Libya, supporting subversives and terrorists abroad to hasten the end of Marxism and capitalism. In addition, beginning in 1973, he engaged in military operations in northern Chad's Aozou Strip - to gain access to minerals and to use as a base of influence in Chadian politics - but was forced to retreat in 1987. UN sanctions in 1992 isolated QADHAFI politically following the downing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. During the 1990s, QADHAFI began to rebuild his relationships with Europe. UN sanctions were suspended in April 1999 and finally lifted in September 2003 after Libya accepted responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing. In December 2003, Libya announced that it had agreed to reveal and end its programs to develop weapons of mass destruction and to renounce terrorism. QADHAFI subsequently made significant strides in normalizing relations with Western nations. The US rescinded Libya's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism in June 2006. In August 2008, the US and Libya signed a bilateral comprehensive claims settlement agreement to compensate claimants in both countries who allege injury or death at the hands of the other country, including the Lockerbie bombing, the LaBelle disco bombing, and the UTA 772 bombing. In October 2008, the US Government received $1.5 billion pursuant to the agreement to distribute to US national claimants, and as a result effectively normalized its bilateral relationship with Libya. The two countries then exchanged ambassadors for the first time since 1973 in January 2009. Libya in May 2010 was elected to its first three-year seat on the UN Human Rights Council, prompting protests from international non-governmental organizations and human rights campaigners. Unrest that began in several Near Eastern and North African countries in late December 2010 spread to several Libyan cities in early 2011. In March 2011, a Transitional National Council (TNC) was formed in Benghazi with the stated aim of overthrowing the QADHAFI regime and guiding the country to democracy. In response to QADHAFI's harsh military crackdown on protesters, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1973, which demanded an immediate ceasefire and authorized the international community to establish a no-fly zone over Libya. After several months of see-saw fighting, anti-QADHAFI forces in August 2011 captured the capital, Tripoli. In mid-September, the UN General Assembly voted to recognize the TNC as the legitimate interim governing body of Libya. The TNC on 23 October officially declared the country liberated following the defeat of the last remaining pro-QADHAFI stronghold and QADHAFI's death. In July 2012, Libya held its first post-QADHAFI nationwide election, which resulted in the formation of a 200-member National Congress (NC). In August 2012, the NC elected a congress president and in October, a new prime minister.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,775,078 females age 16-49: 1,714,194 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,511,144 females age 16-49: 1,458,934 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 59,547 female: 57,070 (2010 est.)

Military branches

note - in transition; government attempting to staff a new national army with anti-QADAFI militia fighters and former members of QADAFI's military (2008)

Military expenditures

3.9% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 24

Age structure

0-14 years: 27.7% (male 795,748/ female 759,806) 15-64 years: 68.4% (male 2,006,059/ female 1,834,119) 65 years and over: 3.9% (male 111,144/ female 106,504) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

17.5 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 109

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

5.6% (2007) country comparison to the world: 80

Death rate

4.9 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 188

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Berber and Arab 97%, other 3% (includes Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, and Tunisians)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.3% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

10,000 (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

Health expenditures

6.6% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 89

Hospital bed density

3.7 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate

total: 12.7 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 128 male: 13.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 11.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Languages

Arabic (official), Italian, English (all widely understood in the major cities); Berber (Nafusi, Ghadamis, Suknah, Awjilah, Tamasheq)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.83 years country comparison to the world: 61 male: 75.5 years female: 80.27 years (2012 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89.2% male: 95.6% female: 82.7% (2010 est.)

Major cities - population

TRIPOLI (capital) 1.095 million (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

58 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 102

Median age

total: 24.8 years male: 24.8 years female: 24.7 years (2012 est.)

Nationality

noun: Libyan(s) adjective: Libyan

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Physicians density

1.9 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

5,613,380 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 109 note: includes 166,510 non-nationals

Population growth rate

2.007% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

Religions

Sunni Muslim (official) 97%, other 3%

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 97% of population rural: 96% of population total: 97% of population unimproved: urban: 3% of population rural: 4% of population total: 3% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 17 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2003)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.12 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Urbanization

urban population: 78% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 2.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

dormant disputes include Libyan claims of about 32,000 sq km still reflected on its maps of southeastern Algeria and the FLN's assertions of a claim to Chirac Pastures in southeastern Morocco; various Chadian rebels from the Aozou region reside in southern Libya

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 3,100 (Iraq); 2,700 (Palestinian Territories) (2012) IDPs: 73,937 (conflict between pro-Qadhafi and anti Qadhafi forces; figure does not include displaced third-country nationals) (2012)

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Libya is a transit and destination country for men and women from sub-Saharan Africa and Asia trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation; Libya has experienced internal unrest, stranding many foreign workers in the country under harsh and unsafe conditions tier rating: Tier 3 - the Libyan Government failed to demonstrate significant efforts to investigate and prosecute trafficking offenses or to protect trafficking victims; the government's policies and practices with respect to undocumented migrant workers resulted in Libyan authorities also punishing trafficking victims for unlawful acts that were committed as a result of their being trafficked; following the outbreak of civil unrest in February 2011, accurate information regarding the situation in Libya has become very limited (2008)

Airports

144 (2012) country comparison to the world: 39

Airports - with paved runways

total: 64 over 3,047 m: 23 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 1 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 80 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 40 under 914 m: 20 (2012)

Heliports

2 (2012)

Merchant marine

total: 23 country comparison to the world: 91 by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 4, liquefied gas 3, petroleum tanker 13, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 2 (Kuwait 1, Norway 1) registered in other countries: 6 (Hong Kong 1, Malta 5) (2010)

Pipelines

condensate 776 km; gas 3,216 km; oil 6,960 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Az Zawiyah, Marsa al Burayqah (Marsa el Brega), Ra's Lanuf, Tripoli

Roadways

total: 100,024 km country comparison to the world: 41 paved: 57,214 km unpaved: 42,810 km (2003)